NFL Playoff Picks: Round 3

In 2000, I was a sophomore in college and may or may not have had a couple of online sports betting accounts.

That year, I went 11-0 in the Playoffs and turned a $100 playoff parlay bet into almost $15,000.

For the upstanding citizens of our society who have never gambled, allow me to explain what I did, (because I still remember it in detail).

When the playoff matches were set, I bet the following scenario:

Miami over Indianapolis

Baltimore over Denver

New Orleans over St. Louis

Philadelphia over Tampa Bay

Oakland over Miami

Baltimore over Tennessee

Minnesota over New Orleans

New York over Philadelphia

Baltimore over Oakland

New York over Minnesota

Baltimore over New York

The year 2000 would be the last year I would ever place a bet because I quickly blew my winnings on the NBA Playoffs, the following year.

It would also be the last year I was ever over .500 on picking football games in the Playoffs.

So here we go!

Jacksonville at New England

Last week, I said Blake Bortles should just “Be you BB!” I’m going to keep jumping in. On his own merit, he appears to be quite an atrocious quarterback incapable of completing a basic swing pass. With a heavy dose of irrational confidence, he appears to be quite competent.

Still though, I’m growing tired of the Jags faux-swagger especially on the defensive side, so I’m taking the Pats and I’m taking the points.

Not the most well-reasoned football analysis but it’s gotten me this far.

Pick: New England -9.5

Minnesota at Philadelphia

My son was napping on my lap when Stefon Diggs ran in for the game-winning touchdown. I could not believe what I was seeing and yet because of my sleeping son, I couldn’t audibly erupt.

Instead, I just hit rewind about 40 times and watched every single piece of that play.

My thoughts:

My gosh I feel bad for that Marcus Williams kid.

My gosh that was some bad tackling.

Why was there not a Minnesota player just standing on the goal line on both sidelines? Minnesota had to go sideline or endzone with no timeouts.

Case Keenum threw a VERY good ball.

Did you know that Case Keenum still holds the record for passing yards in the NCAA?

How mad would Houston Texan fans be if we did not have Deshaun Watson and Case Keenum makes it to the Super Bowl?

I loved how the referee in the end zone threw an excessive celebration flag.

I loved how Diggs threw his football helmet like a baseball player throws his batting helmet.

That moment is enough to give a team enough juice to get to the Super Bowl.